Refrigerator



J. R. MURPHY ET AL REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l I V w 41 m j .m W nn & in

Oct. 6, 1925.

J. R. MURPHY ET AL REFRIGERATOR 2 SheotS-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1923 M w w. 6 m mmm, R UT M s/I RR 1w and TVILLIAM R.

Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JAMES R. MURPHY AND WILLIAM R. STREB, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed December 5, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES R. MURPHY STREB, citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Junction, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerators and more particularly to improvements in a refrigerator adapted for use in cooling bottled goods such as soft drinks.

An important object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator of this character which is so constructed that a plurality of compartments are afforded in the lower ends of which the bottled goods may be disposed, so that ice may be packed upon the tops of the bottled goods to cool the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the compartments are so formed that the walls thereof are readily removable, thus permitting cleansing of a single compartment or a selected number of compartments at one time as maybe desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a refrigerator of this character a door frame having a portion maintaining the partition walls between the compartments against movement until a pair of doors have been opened, thus insuring to a large extent against accidental displacement of any of the compartment partitions.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of il lustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a refrigerator constructed in accordance with our invention, one of the covers being partially broken away;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show different forms of joints between the partition plates and the walls of the box or between partition plates.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a SeriaI No. 678,679.

refrigerator box or chest, in the present instance shown as lined with a sheet of copper, at 11, upon its side walls and bottom. Upon the upper surface of the side and end walls of the box is seated a door frame 12 consisting of a rectangular framework conforming in shape to the shape of the upper ends of the walls of the box. Midway its length this frame is provided in opposed faces thereof with notches 13 in which are seated the ends of a cross or division section 14 of the door frame, the ends of which rest upon the upper surface of the walls of the box. Upon one notched side of the frame a batten 15 is superposed to which is pivoted a pair of doors 16, the division between these doors lying over the division strip 14 hereinbefore described.

Extending transversely of the box beneath the partition strip 15 is a main division wall 17 consisting of a plate of copper, galvanized iron or the like, the ends of which are slidably mounted in guideways 18' carried by the front and rear walls of the box, which guideways will hereinafter be more fully described. The partition strip carries centrally a pair of vertically arranged guideways 18 in which are engaged the ends of longitudinal division plates 19, the opposite ends of which are engaged in guideways 18 carried by the ends of the box. At spaced intervals each longitudinal division plate 19 is provided upon opposite faces thereof with vertical guides 18, each of which aligns with a vertical guide 18 mounted upon the front or rear wall of the box as the case may be; the pairs of guides thus formed receiving the edges of compartment division plates 20. The box is provided centrally with a drain opening 21 of any suitable character.

Each guide 18 preferably consists of a sheet of metal bent centrally, then back upon itself and then outwardly to a point corresponding to the initial bend to form flanges 21 and a U-shaped guide slot 22 receiving the end of the plate. The flanges 21 may be attached to the metal lining of the box in any suitable manner as by riveting at 23. The construction of the guide 18 is, however, optional, as this guide may consist of a pair of angle bars 24, one flange of each bar forming a guide for one face of the plate and the other flange thereof being attached to the lining sheet, or it may consist of a single angle bar 25 and a Z-shaped bar 26, the angle bar having one flange thereof se* cured to the lining and the Z-shaped bar having one of the outer flanges thereof secured to the lining and the other flange thereof directed toward the outstanding flange of the angle bar 25 but in spaced relation thereto so as to provide a means of entrance for the partition plate. In this construction the edges of the plates are provided With an angular or hooked portion 28 engaging behind the free flange 27 of the Z- shaped bar so as to prevent disengagement of the plates upon buckling thereof.

It Will be obvious that With a refrigerator constructed in accordance With the foregoing a plurality of compartments are readily constructed, any of the partition plates being readily removable to provide a large for a commodity Which is in general demand. Furthermore, any of these partition plates can be removed to permit cleansing of the given section of the refrigerator Without disturbing the contents of the remainder of the refrigerator. Vertical displacement of the main plate is effectually prevented by the cross bar held in position by the lids or doors until both of these doors have beenthrown back, at which time all of the partition plates can be removed to permit the thorough cleansing of the refrigerator. Such a refrigerator is particularly Well adapted for use in handling soft drinks Where a plurality of different brands or different drinks of the same brand are to be stored, since each individual brand or individual drink of the same brand may be given a separate compartment and these compartments labeled to enable the vendor to select Without the necessity of Withdrawcompartment ing one bottle after another until the proper bottle is found. This is particularly desirous since it enables the placement of the cracked ice, salted or unsalted, upon the tops of the bottles Where, of course, it acts with the greatest degree of efliciency upon the bottles and at the same time insures a definite selection even When reaching through this cracked ice to secure the desired commodity. Since the device is capable of a considerable range of change and modification Without in any manner departing from the spirit of our invention We accordingly do not Wish to be understod as limiting our: selves to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

\Ve claim In a refrigerator andvin combination With the usual box structure, a plurality of removable plates subdividing the interior of the structure into compartments including a main division plate extending entirely across the refrigerator, a door frame secured to the open side of the box structure, doors pivoted to the frame, the outer face of the frame in alignment With the adjacent edges of the doors being notched, the frame including a loose removable frame piece having its ends seated in said notches and readily disengageable therefrom, said frame piece receiving adjacent edges of the doors when in closed pos1t1on and retaining said main partition plate in pos1t1on Within the refrigerator.

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures. I

JAMES R. MURPHY. WILLIAM R. STREB. 

